Via: redOrbit

Q I’m 53 and have reached the menopause. My periods are lighter and less frequent, and I feel tired most of the time because my sleep is disturbed by several hot flushes during the night. I’m also irritable, forgetful and often feel anxious. What can I do to help myself get through this?

A What you are experiencing are normal symptoms of the menopause – that time in our lives where hormone levels decrease and periods eventually stop.

Your symptoms will improve naturally as your menopause progresses, but to help you along there are a number of things you can do.

Treat yourself with herbs that contain phytoestrogens.

Phytoestrogens are plant compounds similar to the oestrogen and progesterone produced naturally by the body.

They will not act as quickly as synthetic hormones, but they do have lasting effects and will help in balancing out lowered hormone levels. Red clover, chaste berry, Chinese angelica, wild yam, Motherwort and Schizandra are just some of the herbs available.

Try Motherwort or chamomile for anxiety. Oats are also useful and can be easily incorporated in the diet as muesli, porridge or flapjacks.

Passion flower, valerian or Californian poppy are all helpful where sleep is a problem. Try any of these herbs, taking a dose just before you go to bed. If you are using a tincture, then 5ml to 10ml at bedtime should be enough, but you can repeat the dose once in the night if needed. A few drops of essential oil of lavender on your pillow will also help relax you and assist sleep.

On a practical note concerning flushes: Low blood sugar can also make hot flushes worse, so eat regularly throughout the day, avoiding food high in sugar.

Eat foods that will slowly release sugars, such as nuts, fruit and whole grains; Stress can affect flushes, so reduce levels by taking regular exercise and include time for relaxation. Exercise is also essential for maintaining strong bones; Summer can make flushes worse, so avoid tight clothes and wear layers to allow you to remove some clothing when you get hot.